5 people arrested after 6 bodies were found in California desert

Sheriff's officials announced on Monday that five men have been arrested in connection with the deaths of six individuals at a remote dirt crossroads in the Southern California desert. According to the officials, the victims were likely shot to death in a dispute over marijuana.

During a news conference, San Bernardino County Sheriff's Sgt. Michael Warrick revealed that the bodies were found on Tuesday in the Mojave Desert outside El Mirage. The discovery was made after a 911 call from an individual who reported being shot, speaking in Spanish.

California desert murder casePhoto byKGOU

According to Warrick, all the victims were found with gunshot wounds, and four of the bodies were discovered partially burned together. Another victim was found inside a Chevy Trailblazer, and a sixth one was discovered nearby the next day, according to the authorities.

Sheriff Shannon Dicus stated that the murders were allegedly linked to illicit marijuana, noting that the region has a reputation for harboring illegal marijuana cultivation activities.

Officials stated that the level of violence depicted in the scene resembled that of a drug cartel. However, they were unable to immediately verify any involvement of cartels, according to investigators. During a news conference, Sheriff Warrick announced that law enforcement officials have made significant progress in their efforts to combat crime.

As a result of search warrants being served in the Adelanto and Apple Valley areas of San Bernardino County, as well as the Pinyon Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles County, five individuals between the ages of 24 and 34 have been apprehended. Additionally, a total of eight firearms were seized during the operation.

According to officials, all the suspects in the case are believed to be in custody. The individuals were detained without the possibility of release on bail.

Four victims have been identified by authorities. They are Baldemar Mondragon-Albarran, 34, from Adelanto; Franklin Noel Bonilla, 22, from Hesperia; Kevin Dariel Bonilla, 25, also from Hesperia; and a 45-year-old man whose name is being withheld until his family is notified. Authorities are currently working to determine the identities of the two remaining individuals, according to coroner's officials.

According to authorities, it is believed that Franklin Bonilla was the individual who placed the 911 call, as stated by Warrick.

Since its legalization in 2016, recreational marijuana has gained significant traction in California. The state has emerged as the global leader in the legal cannabis market, boasting billions of dollars in annual sales. The illegal market, however, remains robust.

Dicus referred to the black market as a significant issue that leads to violence. He urged lawmakers to reconsider cannabis laws by maintaining legalization while imposing stricter penalties for those who use illegal marijuana.

Last week, TV stations captured aerial footage of a dark blue SUV. The footage revealed a blown-out passenger window and an open door, although part of the image was intentionally blurred. In the scrubby desert, the footage revealed a multitude of yellow evidence markers.

In a remote area, approximately 50 miles (80 kilometers) northeast of Los Angeles, the sheriff's department sought assistance from the California Highway Patrol's Aviation Division to locate the scene.

Tragedy struck in 2020 when seven lives were lost in a shooting incident at an illicit marijuana cultivation site located in a quiet, rural town in Riverside County. Over 20 individuals resided on the premises, where multiple improvised structures were utilized in the manufacturing of honey oil, a highly potent cannabis concentrate.

The Source: APnews